Geostationary Satellite for Defense and Strategic Communications

The Geostationary Satellite for Defense and Strategic Communications (Portuguese: Satélite Geoestacionário de Defesa e Comunicações Estratégicas, or SGDC) is a Brazilian geostationary communication satellite that was built by Thales Alenia Space in France, it was placed in the orbital position of 75 degrees west longitude and will be operated by Telebrás. Telebrás selected Viasat as a partner to help build the associated ground system.^[5] The satellite was based on the Spacebus-4000 platform and its life expectancy will be 18 years.^[6]

SGDC

Mission type	Earth orbiter
Operator	Telebrás and Viasat
COSPAR ID	2017-023B[1]
SATCAT no.	42692[2]
Website	Portal SGDC Telebras
Mission duration	18 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	4000C4
Manufacturer	Thales Alenia Space
Launch mass	5,735 kg (12,644 lb)
Dimensions	7.10 m × 2.20 m × 2.0 m (23.3 ft × 7.2 ft × 6.6 ft)
Power	11 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	May 4, 2017, 21:52 (2017-05-04UTC21:52) UTC[3][4]
Rocket	Ariane 5 VA236
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	73.7° W[2]
Semi-major axis	42,164.0 km (26,199.5 mi)[2]
Eccentricity	0.00016[2]
Perigee altitude	35,784.6 km (22,235.5 mi)[2]
Apogee altitude	35,802.6 km (22,246.7 mi)[2]
Inclination	0.0229°[2]
Period	1,436.1 minutes[2]
RAAN	66.4545°[2]
Argument of perigee	43.2613°[2]
Mean anomaly	250.3095°[2]
Mean motion	1.00272241[2]
Epoch	July 8, 2018[2]
Revolution no.	436
Transponders
Band	50 Ka band 7 IEEE X-band
Coverage area	Brazil, South Atlantic Ocean

The satellite was successfully launched into space on May 4, 2017, at 21:52 UTC, by means of an Ariane 5 vehicle from the French company Arianespace, launched from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana, together with the Koreasat 7.^[7] It had a launch mass of 12,800 pounds (5,800 kg). The SGDC will be equipped with 50 Ka band transponders and 5 X band transponders to provide broadband internet and communications to the Brazilian government and the Brazilian Armed Forces.^[8]

A backup satellite, SGDC-2, was initially planned for launch no earlier than 2022.^[9] As of July 2021, the procurement of this satellite has been delayed indefinitely due to concerns over cost and the legality of the procurement agreement.^[10][11]

See also

• Spaceflight portal

• China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite
• Brazilian Space Agency